The Importance of Being Earnest at the Huron Playhouse. photo: Jenna Martin

The Huron Playhouse kicked off its 62nd season with Oscar Wilde’s comic masterpiece, The Importance of Being Earnest, which was presented though special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. out of New York City, New York. This classic combined with the resources of Ohio’s longest running community summer theatre made for a complete performance. Costumes and set design featured the great embellishments of the play’s setting with wonderful expression from each of the cast members. (Click on any image to view a slideshow of the performance.)

Set in late Victorian England in 1895, the play’s humour derives in part from characters maintaining fictitious identities to escape unwelcome social obligations. With witty dialogue, it satires some of the foibles and hypocrisy of late Victorian society. It has proved to be Wilde’s most enduringly popular play. Click here for a complete plot synopsis.

The Importance of Being Earnest at the Huron Playhouse. photo: Jenna Martin

The Importance of Being Earnest at the Huron Playhouse. photo: Jenna Martin

The scene where Gwendolyn Fairfax, played by Bethany Edlund, and Cecily Cardew, played by Miriam Henkel-Moellmann, are bantering about which of them is engaged to Earnest Worthing was especially fun to watch. Each of these two characters were believable as well-mannered women society about to lose their manners over this cheeky misunderstanding. Their expressive interactions made for a perfect transition in this hilarious storyline.

Listen to this week’s edition of On The Wire as Joshua Pribanic interview’s Jennifer Lefsyk, who plays Miss Prism, backstage before the performance.

Consider donating to the Huron Playhouse! Unsure if it will be have to close its doors after this season due to funding cuts at Bowling Green State Universtiy, the playhouse is looking to fill the

The Importance of Being Earnest at the Huron Playhouse. photo: Jenna Martin

gaps in order to keep up annually with $300,000 in operational costs. Contact Dr. Jann Glann at jglann@bgsu.edu and visit The Huron Playhouse Online.

(Note: this recording may take a minute to load: please be patient. Also, some recordings do not play well on built-in computer speakers; and would require headphones or a strong set of speakers attached to your computer.)